Method of making paper container having a high gloss exterior finish and wax coated interior and bottom surfaces

ABSTRACT

Method of making a container by first printing and applying an overlying high gloss coating on a container blank adapted to form a container sidewall member having inner and outer plies with blocking adhesive therebetween; then forming said blank into a tubular sidewall member and attaching a preformed bottom member thereto; then holding the formed container such that its sidewall is inclined downwardly towards the open end of the container; applying a first coating of melted wax of particular composition and at a high temperature as set forth in specification, draining the excess wax from the container, and applying a second similar coating of the melted wax but at a lower temperature as described; and applying a melted wax coating to the exterior of the bottom of the container using nozzle guards, all in manner avoiding deposit of wax on high gloss exterior of sidewall member.

United States Patent [54] METHOD OF MAKING PAPER CONTAINER HAVING A HIGHGLOSS EXTERIOR FINISH AND WAX COATED INTERIOR AND BOTTOM SURFACES 5Claims, 13 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 93/36 PC, 93/34, 93/36 MM, 93/36.5, 93/39 C, 93/55.1, 93/59MT [50] Field of Search 93/36 MM, 36 PC, 36.5, 34, 39 C, 39.3, 59 MT,55.1, 84 FF [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,175,406 3/1916Bohlman 93/36 1,417,707 5/1922 2,074,348 3/1937 2,110,750 3/19382,141,556 12/1938 2,311,675 2/1943 Magill 93/55.1 2,368,273 1/1945Tibbetts 93/36 2,435,806 2/1948 Tibbetts 93/36 3,015,596 1/1962 Couch93/36 3,085,026 4/1963 Weisgerber 93/36 3,202,065 8/1965 Bolcato 93/363,215,050 1l/1965 Schroeder 93/36 3,286,005 11/1966 Cook 93/34 X3,322,045 5/1967 Tanona 93/39 3,439,590 4/1969 Rosenberg. 93/55.l3,505,933 4/ 1970 Schmidt 93/79 FOREIGN PATENTS 773,172 4/1957 GreatBritain 93/36 Primary Examiner-Wayne A. Morse, Jr.

Attorney- Brooks, Haidt & Haffner ABSTRACT: Method of making a containerby first printing and applying an overlying high gloss coating on acontainer blank adapted to form a container sidewall member having innerand outer plies with blocking adhesive therebetween; then forming saidblank into a tubular sidewall member and attaching a preformed bottommember thereto; then holding the formed container such that its sidewallis inclined downwardly towards the open end of the container; applying afirst coating of melted wax of particular composition and at a hightemperature as set forth in specification, draining the excess wax fromthe container, and applying a second similar coating of the melted waxbut at a lower temperature as described; and applying a melted waxcoating to the exterior of the bottom of the container using nozzleguards, all in manner avoiding deposit of wax on high gloss exterior ofsidewall m m re PATENTED SEP 7 I971 SHEET 1 [IF 2 Ill I I IN RODNEY ELUDDER METHOD OF MAKING PAPER CONTAINER HAVING A HIGH GLOSS EXTERIORFINISH AND WAX COATED INTERIOR AND BOTTOM SURFACES This application is adivision of my copending applications Ser. No. 605,338, files Dec. 28,I966, now abandoned and Ser. No. 677,906, filed Oct. 25, 1967.

This invention relates to two-piece paperboard containers intendedespecially for the packaging of comestibles and more particularly forcottage cheese and other cultured dairy products, salads, butter,spreads and the like which require low gas and/or moisture barrierproperties. It has been found that in the packaging of foods of thisnature it is difficult to prevent the transmission of moisture vapor andthe transmission of oxygen gas, the passage of both of which must beprevented in order to protect the flavor and freshness of the food. Forexample, it has been found that paperboard containers heavily coatedwith a suitable wax are much more impervious to the passage of moisturevapor and oxygen gas than are many plastic containers. In the productionof such heavily waxed paperboard containers, it is difficult to producea highly glazed or glossy outer surface on the sidewall of thecontainer, which is especially desirable where the sidewall bearsfanciful designs often comprising multicolors.

In the conventional heavily waxed two-piece paperboard containers, aheavy coating of wax is applied to the exterior surface as well as tothe interior surface and a highly glossy exterior surface of thesidewall is unobtainable without ruining the wax properties. Forexample, while it is possible to obtain high gloss on overall waxed foodcontainers simply by cold quenching them while the wax is still liquid,this sets up surface stresses which crack under refrigeration and thecontainers fail rapidly offering no resistance to the food product.

According to the present invention, the sidewall or body comprises atleast two plies which may be effected by a double wrap made ofone sheetor a single wrap comprising a plurality of sheets. In either event, anintervening blocking layer of material separates the inner and outerply. The blocking layer may be in the form of an adhesive or glue whichis impervious to the penetration of the hot wax applied to the interiorof the container. or in the form of a blocking material which serves thesame purpose, or a combination thereof. The purpose of such constructionis to prevent the hot wax applied to the interior of the container frompenetrating to the exterior surface ofthe container. which exteriorsurface is desired to be coated with a glossy finish, either by meansofa high gloss wax or by means of a suitable coating of plasticmaterial, in the manner well known in the art.

The blank from which the sidewall is to be made may be printed with thedesired design and colors, as is customary in present practice of paperprinting and coating, and thus provide a clear, high gloss finish,preferably by means of a thermosetting resin.

After the sidewall and bottom of the container are assembled in themanner well known in the art, the interior of the container is coated bya special formulation of paraffin wax, which wax is prevented frompassing to the highly glossy outer surface of the sidewall but ispermitted to penetrate the entire bottom of the container.

To provide moisture resistance from exterior sources, such as whennest-able containers are placed in stacked relation and the bottom ofone container is seated within the lid of a lower container which oftenacts as a depository for moisture, the bottom surface ofthe container iscoated by a special formula tion ol paraffin wax. Allernatcly, the waxcoating may be applied substantially to the ledge ol' the containerbottom sur- 'lhcse coatings give the container the dual advantages of(I) an inner barrier to the transmission of moisture vapor and oxygengas, thus protecting the flavor and freshness of the food product; (2) asuperior outside finish which not only contributes additional holdingqualities to the package but comdetailed description thereof when takentogether with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective top view of the container;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken at 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a somewhat diagrammatic view showing a cross section of asidewall of the container made from a single sheet comprising two plies;

FIG. 4 is a similar view showing a cross section of a sidewall of thecontainer made from a double wrap ofa one-ply sheet;

FIG. 4a is a plan view on a somewhat reduced scale of the blockingcoating on said blank.

FIG. 4b is a greatly enlarged sectional view taken at 4b-4b of FIG. 4showing the two-ply sidewall fabricated from the blank illustrated inFIG. 4a and showing the relation of the interior wax coating on theinner ply, the barrier between the two plies, an outer barrier, and theexterior glazed finish on the outer ply of the sidewall;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the first step ofsquirting or pouring wax into the interior ofthe container;

FIG. 6 is a similar view showing the draining of the excess wax out ofthe mouth of the container;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing the second step of squirtingor pouring wax into the container;

FIG. 8 is a greatly enlarged sectional view taken at 88 of FIG. 7showing the two-ply sidewall and the relation of the interior waxcoating on the inner ply, the barrier between the two plies and theexterior glazed finish on the outer ply of the sidewall; and

FIGS. 9, l0 and 11 inclusive, are longitudinal sectional views showingthe coating of various portions of the container. bottom.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. I and 2, itwill be seen that the container indicated in gencrnlas 9 comprises atapered sidewall designated in general as 10 and a bottom memberdesignated in general as 11. The sidewall 10 comprises an inner ply I2and an outer ply l3 and an intermediate barrier comprising a blockinglayer 14, which may be in the form of a blocking adhesive 14a, (FIG.4b), which is preferably polyvinyl alcohol or vinyl acetate, thepreference being in the order named; or which may be in the form ofablocking coating 14b which (FIG. 4b) is preferably of a clay base, asfor example, polyvinyl acetate and/or styrene butadiene latex combinedwith a clay material or titanium dioxide to obtain a white pigmentationto print upon. It is contemplated that other suitable adhesives may beemployed, such as polyethylene or a starch adhesive, as well as avariety of suita-, ble coatings, formulated to effect the desiredbarrier for preventing the passage of hot wax through the outer ply 13.

As seen in FIG. 5, the container is formed in the manner well known inthe art having a bottom member 11, with an interior surface Ila and anexterior surface 1112, which is secured in position as by providing adownwardly peripherally extending flange llc which is disposed betweenthe outer wall portion adjacent the lower end of the sidewall 10 and theinwardly and upwardly turned end or skirt 10d of said end to form apedestal 18. The bottom flange I It" is peripherally scaled between theadjacent portions We and Illd of the sidewall member I0 to provide aliquidtight seal, At the lower end of the pedestal l8, intermediate andintegrally formed with said outer wall portion 10c and said upwardlyturned skirt 10d is a bottom ledge 10s on which the container 9 isgenerally supported. The complete bottom surface 11f, as illustrated inFIG. 5, of the container 9, includes the bottom ledge 10s, skirt 10d andthe exterior surface 11b, which is the portion of the bottom member 11circumscribed by peripheral skirt llc. A suitable rolled rim or lip isformed on the open end of the container as is customary and in a mannerwell known in the art.

In FIG. 3 there is shown the conventional formation of a sidewall by asingle wrap designated 100 which comprises at least two plies ofmaterial adhered together by blocking adhesive with the ends of a singlewrap multi ply sheet secured together in a side seam 16; while in FIG. 4there is shown the conventional manner of forming a sidewall by two ormore wraps of a single-ply sheet wherein the plies are laminatedtogether by means of an intervening adhesive, which may be a blockinglayer, and the ends of the single-ply sheet are secured together as byside seam 1'7 as is customary in the prior art. As above indicated, theouter surface of the sidewall 10 commensurate with the outer surface ofthe container may be printed on the container blank before the sidewallof the container is formed and, whether plain or with a design, itsexterior surface may be provided with the desired high gloss.Preferably, the high gloss finish is provided by first printing and thencoating with a thermosetting resin to provide a clear, high glossprotective finish, such as 13,

In FIG. 4a, there is shown a plan view of the present blank by whichthesidewall member 10b is formed in accordance with a preferred embodimentof the invention. The blank sidewall is of a length to form thedouble-wrap container illustrated in H0. 4 in which one half of theblank, when formed, is the inner ply l2 and the other half the outer ply13. The paperboard stock carries a coating as, for example, a polyvinylacetate along with a binder which is preferably of a clay base material,and which may form the blocking coating as hereinafter discussed.

Preferably, the high gloss finish is provided by first printing upon onehalf of one side of the wall 10b and then coating with a thermosettingresin to provide a clear, high gloss protective finish as 13. When thewall 10]? is of this double-wrap construction, the blocking adhesive 14ais applied opposite the printed side of the blank. When wrapped thissurface 14a contacts 14b. The blocking coating 14b iscontained on theinner ply 12 so that, in assembled relation for a double-wrap container,we have illustrated in FIG. 417 an exterior high gloss coating 13',blocking coating 14b, outer ply I3, blocking layer 14, formed of eitheror both the blocking coating 14b and blocking adhesive 14a, inner ply 12with an interior wax coating 12' hereinafter discussed in detail, Thusas illustrated in FIG. 4b, we have a container constructed in which theblocking layer 14 intermediate the inner ply l2 and outer ply 13 iscomprised of both a blocking adhesive 14a and a blocking coating 14b.Depending upon the properties of the blocking adhesive 14a and theblocking coating 14b, either one or the combination ofthe two mayconstitute the blocking layer l4 and prevent the penetration of the wax12 from reaching the outer ply 13, An additional feature is that asecondary blocking layer 14 may be provided between the outer ply 13 andthe high gloss protective finish 13 in the form of blocking coating 14bto further assure the obtainment ofa container free from unsightly waxmarring on the exterior surface thereof and as a base for printing uponthe container sidewall 10. 7

After the sidewall and bottom have been assembled to complete thepaperboard container 9 for either it single-wrap or double-wrapcontainer, the container is suitably held in a holder designated and aseries of containers so held is carried on a conveyor with thelongitudinal axes disposed in the horizontal plane. The containers arerotated about their longitudinal axes while moved forward by theconveyor and wax is squirted or poured into the interior of thecontainers as by nozzles 21. It will he noted that the container 9 shownin the drawings has a tapered sidewall 10, which as is customary inremove the excess wax the container is tipped as shown in FIG. 6 tosubstantially increase the sidewall tilt and drain out excess wax 22. Ofcourse, if it is desired to treat cylindrical containers, the holder20is held on the conveyor so that the container sidewall is initiallyinclined at a suitable angle, say about 38, and thereafter tilted to agreater inclination to drain out excess wax 22. The increased tilt angleas shown in FIG. 6 may be efiected at one or more points in the path oftravel of the container, as by means of cam segments (not shown) as iswell known in the art.

The wax employed is preferably a composition comprising 99.5 percent offully refined paraffin wax having a melting point of 132-l34 F. and itpercent of a polyethylene additive, such as one made by Eastman ChemicalCompany known in the trade as Cl3." This formulation of wax is appliedin two steps, the first at about 255 F. and after the excess has beendrained from the container as shown in FIG. 6, a second application ismade with the above composition at about 180 F such as by means of anozzle 23. After the second application the excess wax is drained fromthe container and the con tainer is dried.

As will best be seen in FIG. 8, the wax not only coats the interiorsurface of inner ply 12 to provide the interior wax coating 12', butpartially penetrates the same to inhibit flaking. While this wax coatingthus applied is preventing from passing through the paper-adhesivelaminate to the exterior surface of the sidewall 10, it does penetrateentirely through the bottom 11 of the container and a completepenetration through'the bottom of the container is desirable so that thebottom is fully covered and the extra wax on the bottom adds strength tothe corner and center portions of the container and also further assuresa sealing fillet between the bottom member 11, and sidewall 10.

For those containers stored or filled in a moisture-laden or wetenvironment, it has been found desirable to provide a protective coatingof wax on the complete bottom surface of the container, or partsthereof, in a manner to prevent the moisture from saturating the sealbetween the outer wall portion We, upwardly turned skirt 10d of the wall10 and the downwardly extending flange 11c therebetween. in practice,the filled containers are often stored in refrigerators and the bottomledge [0e of the pedestal rests within the lid of a lower stackedcontainer The lid often contains a degree of condensation, such aswater, that upon storage for several days tends to saturate the ledge10c, upwardly turned skirt 10d and downwardly extending flange 11c toeffect a separation of the adhesive at the juncture therebetween whichaffects the structural rigidity of the container. When the skirt 1011becomes saturated, it starts to return to its original flat shapethereby applying a force on the overlapped seal which has a tendency tocrack the seal.

Referring more particularly to FIGS. 9, l0 and 11, we have illustratedan exterior wax coating on the bottom surface, which wax may be of thesame type 12 as used to interiorly coat the container, and which wax isapplied either subsequent to the application of the interior wax asdescribed or thereafter. i

ln FIGv 9, the bottom surface llfis wax coated while the container ismounted generally vertically on a holder designated 25 and, which may berotated, while the wax is applied as by squirting or pouring it on tothe ledge lflr thereof by nozzle 26. Preferably when the entire bottomsurface is to be coated the container and supply of melted wax aremaintained in horizontally spaced relationship and moved along a definedpath relative to each other to coat the surface thereof. Controllingmeans 27 is provided, which may be in the form of an outer guard meansin the form of funnel 28 and an inner guard means in the form of funnel29, mounted for relative movement with respect to each other in anyconventional manner not shown, to confine the area of application of thewax and then move the container and control means relative to each otherfor waxing of the next container. The spacing at the mouth of thefunnels is substantially equal to the width of the ledge e to assurethat the wax substantially coats the ledge only and not the exteriorhigh gloss finish.

FIG. 10 illustrates the invention wherein the bottom ledge [0e and skirt10d are coated with the wax and particularly the junction between thelatter and bottom member 11a. The nozzle 26 is positioned within theconfining means 27 formed by the outer funnel 28 and inner funnel 29 andthe latter terminating in spaced relation to the upwardly turned skirt10d which is wax coated with the ledge l0e.

FIG. 11 illustrates the invention wherein the entire bottom surface 11f,including the skirt 10d, bottom ledge We and the exterior surface 11b,enclosed by the skirt 10d, are coated as by positioning the nozzle 26 inspaced relation to the bottom 11 and providing control means 27 in theform of the funnel 28 having a diameter at its base substantially equalto the outer diameter of the container. Alternately, the bottom member11 and skirt 10d may be wax coated by reducing the diameter of thecontrol means 27. The holder can be simultaneously rotated relative tothe nozzle 26, in any conventional manner to properly disperse the waxbeing applied or the holder and nozzle 26 may be maintained in fixedrelationship to each other. In addition the wax is applied through thenozzle 26 in timed relation to the positioning of the container inoverlapping relation thereto. The container may be intermittentlystopped when the wax is applied thereto.

Thus in accordance with the present invention applicant has invented apackaging container of the nestable type which for the first timecombines many ideal characteristics not heretofore available in a singlecontainer. The invention permits the obtainment of a high exteriorglossy finish which has long been desired for beauty and texture toproperly attract the eye of the consumer, and still have the qualitiesthat permit the storage of the container for prolonged periods of time,due to its wax coated interior and bottom surface. The wax coated bottompermits the container to remain on a damp or moistened surface for aconsiderable period of time without affecting the structure of thecontainer and more importantly the contents contained therein.

Having thus described my invention with particularity with reference. toits preferred form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art,after understanding my invention, that other changes aiid modificationsmay be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of myinvention, and I aim in the appended claims to cover such changes andmodifications as are within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A method of making a two-piece paper container comprising the stepsof: providing a tubular sidewall member having an outer ply and an innerpaper ply adhered together by a blocking adhesive, securing a paperbottom member in sealed relationship to the lower end of said sidewallmember thereby forming a container having an open end and an exteriorbottom surface. holding said container with its sidewall inclineddownwardly towards its open end and rotating the same about itslongitudinal axis while moving the same in a linear direction, applyinga first layer of melted wax at a preselected temperature into theinterior of said container during said linear and rotational movement toevenly spread said melted wax substantially over the entire interiorpaper surface of the sidewalls and bottom of said container, tippingsaid container to increase the downward angle of its sidewall so as todrain out excess melted wax, applying a second application of melted waxto the interior of said container at a temperature substantially lowerthan the temperature of the wax during said first application and whilemoving the container linearly and rotationally about its axis for evenlyspreading said second application of wax substantially over the entireinterior surface of the sidewalls and the bottom of said container,draining excess wax from the interior of the container, and pen mittingsaid wax to solidify.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said wax comprises arefined paraffin wax having a melting point of about 132-134 F. to whichhas been added about /z ercent of .a polyethylene additive, thetemperature of sai wax being about 255 F. during the first applicationand about F. during the second application, and during at least thefirst of said wax applications, said container sidewall being inclineddownwardly at an angle of from about 3 to about 8 with respect to thehorizontal.

3. The method as set forth in claim 1 which further comprises applyingan exterior coating of a melted wax to said bottom surface of thecontainer to provide a moisture resistance barrier thereon.

4. The method as set forth in claim 3 wherein the exterior of saidbottom surface of the container is defined by a bottom ledge, anupwardly extending skirt, and a portion of the bottom membercircumscribed by said skirt, said step of applying an exterior coatingof a melted wax to said bottom surface of the container comprising thesteps of holding said container in a substantially vertical position,providing a nozzle for spraying melted wax, and moving said container inoverlapping relationship to said nozzle to obtain an even coating ofsaid wax on said bottom surface, said melted wax being applied upwardlythrough said nozzle.

S. A method of making a two-piece paper container of the characterdescribed having a high gloss outer surface and a wax impregnated innersurface which comprises providing a tubular sidewall member having anouter ply and an inner ply adhered together by a blocking adhesive, saidmember being formed by the steps of cutting a flat blank correspondingto said sidewall member from paper material, printing on one side ofsaid blank corresponding to the outer surface of said sidewall memberwhen formed into said tubular shape, and applying a high gloss finishoverlyingsaid printing, and then wrapping said blank to form saidtubular sidewall member, securing a bottom member in sealed relationshipto the lower end of said sidewall member thereby forming a containerhaving an open end and an exterior bottom surface, holding saidcontainer with its sidewall inclined downwardly towards its open end androtating the same about its longitudinal axis while moving the same in alinear direction, applying melted wax into the interior of saidcontainer during said linear and rotational movement to evenly spreadsaid melted wax, tipping said container to increase the downward angleof its sidewall so as to drain out excess melted wax, applying a secondapplication of a melted wax to the interior of said container whilemoving the same linearly and rotationally about its axis, said waxcomprising a refined paraffin wax having a melting point of about 132134 F. to which has been added about /2 percent of a polyethyleneadditive, the temperature of said wax being about 255 F. during thefirst application and about 180 F. during the second application,draining excess wax from the interior of the container and drying thesame, applying an exterior coating of a melted wax to said bottomsurface of the container comprising the steps of holding said containerin a substantially vertical position, providing a nozzle for melted wax,and moving said container in overlapping relationship to said nozzle toobtain an even coating of said wax on the peripheral area of said bottomsurface using outer and inner guard means adjacent said peripheral area.

1. A method of making a two-piece paper container comprising the stepsof: providing a tubular sidewall member having an outer ply and an innerpaper ply adhered together by a blocking adhesive, securing a paperbottom member in sealed relationship to the lower end of said sidewallmember thereby forming a container having an open end and an exteriorbottom surface, holding said container with its sidewall inclineddownwardly towards its open end and rotating the same about itslongitudinal axis while moving the same in a linear direction, applyinga first layer of melted wax at a preselected temperature into theinterior of said container during said linear and rotational movement toevenly spread said melted wax substantially over the entire interiorpaper surface of the sidewalls and bottom of said container, tippingsaid container to increase the downward angle of its sidewall so as todrain out excess melted wax, applying a second application of melted waxto the interior of said container at a temperature substantially lowerthan the temperature of the wax during said first application and whilemoving the container linearly and rotationally about its axis for evenlyspreading said second application of wax substantially over the entireinterior surface of the sidewalls and the bottom of said container,draining excess wax from the interior of the container, and permittingsaid wax to solidify.
 2. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein saidwax comprises a refined paraffin wax having a melting point of about132*-134* F. to which has been added about 1/2 percent of a polyethyleneadditive, the temperature of said wax being about 255* F. during thefirst application and about 180* F. during the second application, andduring at least the first of said wax applications, said containersidewall being inclined downwardly at an angle of from about 3* to about8* with respeCt to the horizontal.
 3. The method as set forth in claim 1which further comprises applying an exterior coating of a melted wax tosaid bottom surface of the container to provide a moisture resistancebarrier thereon.
 4. The method as set forth in claim 3 wherein theexterior of said bottom surface of the container is defined by a bottomledge, an upwardly extending skirt, and a portion of the bottom membercircumscribed by said skirt, said step of applying an exterior coatingof a melted wax to said bottom surface of the container comprising thesteps of holding said container in a substantially vertical position,providing a nozzle for spraying melted wax, and moving said container inoverlapping relationship to said nozzle to obtain an even coating ofsaid wax on said bottom surface, said melted wax being applied upwardlythrough said nozzle.
 5. A method of making a two-piece paper containerof the character described having a high gloss outer surface and a waximpregnated inner surface which comprises providing a tubular sidewallmember having an outer ply and an inner ply adhered together by ablocking adhesive, said member being formed by the steps of cutting aflat blank corresponding to said sidewall member from paper material,printing on one side of said blank corresponding to the outer surface ofsaid sidewall member when formed into said tubular shape, and applying ahigh gloss finish overlying said printing, and then wrapping said blankto form said tubular sidewall member, securing a bottom member in sealedrelationship to the lower end of said sidewall member thereby forming acontainer having an open end and an exterior bottom surface, holdingsaid container with its sidewall inclined downwardly towards its openend and rotating the same about its longitudinal axis while moving thesame in a linear direction, applying melted wax into the interior ofsaid container during said linear and rotational movement to evenlyspread said melted wax, tipping said container to increase the downwardangle of its sidewall so as to drain out excess melted wax, applying asecond application of a melted wax to the interior of said containerwhile moving the same linearly and rotationally about its axis, said waxcomprising a refined paraffin wax having a melting point of about 132* -134* F. to which has been added about 1/2 percent of a polyethyleneadditive, the temperature of said wax being about 255* F. during thefirst application and about 180* F. during the second application,draining excess wax from the interior of the container and drying thesame, applying an exterior coating of a melted wax to said bottomsurface of the container comprising the steps of holding said containerin a substantially vertical position, providing a nozzle for melted wax,and moving said container in overlapping relationship to said nozzle toobtain an even coating of said wax on the peripheral area of said bottomsurface using outer and inner guard means adjacent said peripheral area.